In his capacity as Master, Julian Sayers hosted The Worshipful Company of Farmers Annual Livery Banquet at The Stationers’ Hall in the City of London on Wednesday 17th January. Julian gave an address followed by David Fursdon as the Guest Speaker with his wealth of experience as an estate owner and his wide ranging public service. They spoke about the current work of the Company and this year’s theme, the ‘Post-Brexit Future for Land Tenure and Occupation’ as well as the Livery’s continuing educational programme.

The 57th Adkin Annual Sale of Hay & Straw is the first to be held in conjunction with Thimbleby & Shorland for the express purpose of maintaining this important service to the farming community. The sale was held at Ardington, Oxfordshire on Tuesday 16th January 2018 and met with a lively trade. As ever the weather in the summer of 2017 had had a marked effect upon the fodder offered which overall was slightly down in quantity on recent years. The hay was generally of good quality and met with strong demand. The straw from the 2017 harvest inevitably suffered from the weather. Credit goes to our vendors for maintaining supplies. Those who entered met with prices far in excess of recent years.

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) is due for a number of improvements ahead of the 2018 application period. These aim to make it easier for farmers to access the funding it offers.

Streamline Packages

Four ‘packages’ covering the most common farm type will be offered and will have a shorter application form and simpler checks when applying. The packages will be non-competitive meaning applicants are guaranteed an offer as long as they meet the minimum requirements. Individual management options are grouped together within a package under a number of categories. There will then be a requirement to pick a minimum number of options from each category.

Adkin is a small friendly team of Chartered Surveyors based in the attractive village of Ardington near Wantage, Oxfordshire. Our work involves all aspects of agricultural, commercial and residential property throughout Southern England for a wide range of clients.

Due to an ever increasing workload, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a graduate Rural Surveyor to join our team. The successful applicant will be hardworking and self-motivated with good attention to detail. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential together with the confidence and ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Adkin will provide full training and support to enable you to become a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

This is an opportunity to join a highly respected, friendly and dynamic team with an interesting and varied workload. Good training and career prospects are available for the right candidate. A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered together with the possibility of subsidised housing.

In order to ensure the continuity of the Adkin Annual Hay and Straw Sale we will from hereon be operating in conjunction with Thimbleby & Shorland of Reading. We intend to work closely together to maintain this important service.

The Government have this month published guidance for landlords on the minimum level of energy efficiency required to let domestic property under Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015.

Julian Sayers was installed as Master of The Worshipful Company of Farmers on 10th October and is looking forward to a busy year ahead whilst representing the agricultural industry in the City of London and further afield.

His theme for the year will be the future for the letting and occupation of farmland as the industry faces an uncertain future outside the European Union which means there is a need for flexibility and resilience. Those who own land and wish to share occupation will need farmers with the right skills and foresight to take up the opportunities that will exist in the brave new world.

Alongside these discussions he will also be promoting the Company’s ever expanding educational programme thereby inspiring, encouraging and developing excellence in the management of UK Agriculture.